₦airaland Forum

Nigeria has about 24, 000 actively licensed physicians caring for its over 200 million population as result of brain drain in the country, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has said.

NMA President, Ojinmah Uche, stated this yesterday in Abuja during a policy dialogue on Nigeria’s health sector brain drain and its implications for sustainable child and family health service delivery, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in collaboration with the Partnership for Advancing Child and Family Health at Scale project of the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC).


He said this gives a horrible true ratio of approximately 1 doctor to 10,000 patients ratio.

He said, “Only one doctor is incredibly available to treat 30,000 patients in some states in the South; while states in the North are as worse as one doctor to 45,000 patients. In some rural areas, patients have to travel more than 30 kilometers from their abodes to get medical attention where available thus Nigeria making access to healthcare a rarity.”

Ojinmah said based on the World Health Organisation established minimum threshold, a country needs a mix of 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population to deliver essential maternal and child health services.

He blamed brain drain on poor funding of the health sector, stressful medical education, non-existent house job slots, difficulty in gaining employment, poor remuneration, unnecessary and unhealthy inter-professional rivalry, insecurity, among others.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, Ayo Omotayo, said Nigeria currently has the third highest number of foreign medical doctors working in the United Kingdom after India and Pakistan.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, represented by  Sydney Ibeanusi, Director of Trauma, Emergency and Disaster Response, said the emigration of trained and highly skilled health workforce was of great concern as it put further strain on the already challenged health system.

He said some other things to consider to repatriate the acquired knowledge and skill by the migrating workforce are bonding of healthcare persons trained in the public health institutions, increasing the tuition fee in public health institution relative to those in the private institution and provision of grants for trainee which must be paid back after graduation before they will be allowed to emigrate.

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of three civil servants and a businessman for defrauding one Alhaji Bala Rabiu of N900,000 for fake immigration jobs purportedly secured for six of his children.

ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua said the convicts, Jibrin Babagana, a businessman, Mohammed Rabiu Isa, a civil servant with the State Ministry of Education, Sabo Abdullahi and Ado Abdul of the State Ministry of Justice, were sentenced to two years imprisonment each by Justice Nasiru Saminu of the Kano State High Court 13, sitting at Bompai, Kano, Kano State, on each of the four-count charge preferred against them.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Jibrin Babagana, Mohammad Rabiu, Sabo Abdullahi and Ado Abdu sometime in August 2018 at Kano agreed among yourselves to issue fake letters of employment into the Nigeria Immigration Service to the children of Alhaji Bala Rabiu knowing that such letters were fake thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code Laws of Kano State”.

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, while their counsel, Mr S. G. Gani, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders and family men with children.

The ICPC counsel, Fatima Rabiu Musa, confirmed that the defendants had no previous offences record with the Commission.

Justice Saminu thereafter sentenced the defendants to two years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Katsina State High Court, has recovered over N900 million from Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) loan defaulters across the State, through its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centres set up across the state

The State Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi stated this while addressing journalists in the State, he said the funds were recovered from those that refused to repay their loans due to some skepticisms.

Stressing further that  the alternative dispute resolution window has succeeded in the recovery of over 90 per cent of the Anchor Borrowers loans granted by the CBN to the beneficiaries in the state.

“The state government stood as a guarantor for Anchor Borrowers. Somehow, people think they should not pay. And if they don’t pay, it is the government’s money that will be deducted directly from the source by the CBN because the government has already committed itself.

“And we said let’s use this alternative dispute resolution mechanism because people have confidence that when they pay to the court their money is secured.

“Over N900 million was recovered in a very short time without anybody having any ill-feeling. This would not have been possible within the short time of the recovery through the formal litigation process,” he said.

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, reeled out his blueprint for the country, saying his administration would bring out workable policies to ensure that insecurity is nipped in the bud in the North and across the country.

Tinubu, who spoke during an interaction with northern leaders under the aegis of the Arewa Joint Committee at Arewa House, Kaduna, noted that he would transform Nigeria just like he did upon assumption as Lagos State governor.

The former Lagos State governor noted that the whole country is endowed with resources that can be harnessed for greater economic development.

He praised past leaders of the country, including Nigeria’s late Premier of Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Nigeria first and only Prime minister, Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe for being visionary leaders who gave their all to nation-building.

Before addressing the Northern leaders, Tinunu had earlier visited the tomb of the late Saudauna of Sokoto, who he prayed for, for his invaluable sacrifice to the North and country.

Riding on the wings of the heroes of Nigeria’s independence and history, Tinubu said he would continue to give his best even as president to ensure the country remains indivisible, achieving greatness together as one.

He noted: “As I said when I chaired the Sardauna Memorial Lecture, last year, I have a solemn feeling of responsibility and duty to our country every time I am here. Standing here evokes memories of a great leader and a father of this nation, the Late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto. The contributions of the Sardauna to nation-building remain a reference point for us all. He was a visionary builder of men and institutions.

“The dream of Sardauna, and indeed that of our other great leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and our first and only prime minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was for one indivisible and prosperous nation built on shared values of patriotism, equity, justice and brotherhood.

“It is therefore no coincidence that at Independence this vison was clearly laid out and encapsulated in our first National Anthem. It says: ‘Though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’

“This is a strong statement which acknowledges our diversity, and, therefore, existence of different perspectives and interests, and how that should not stand on the path of our unity as brothers.

“The framers of this anthem, God rest their souls, will cringe to know that 62 years after, someone would come to this hallowed platform to campaign on the basis of tribe or where others come from.

“The dream of those forefathers, ladies and gentlemen, was for a nation ‘Where no man is oppressed’, a nation ‘with peace and plenty’, and these – unity in diversity, peace and prosperity – are the fulcrum of my mission in this contest. They also form the bulk of my address to you this afternoon, in line with the areas the organisers wanted me to address,” Tinubu said.

On his plans for Nigeria as president, the Jagaban Borgu promised to consolidate on the investments of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in all sectors of the nation to build on the successes recorded.

“Our economic plan would utilize the vast natural resources we have, through strategic investment in infrastructure which will lead to the diversification of the economy and wealth creation across the entire country.  We will pay attention to modern economic drivers such as the digital economy, creative industries, sports and entertainment sectors for the benefit of our young people.

“The APC Federal Government has taken several measures to build infrastructure and improve the ease of doing business across the country. This has been complemented by the efforts of some of our states to attract investments in diverse sectors of the economy,” he added.

Tinubu also stated that under his leadership, the Nigerian government will be business-friendly, adding that he would focus on tackling underinvestment and effective management.

He continued: “We shall support private businesses in our country and attract foreign direct investment to create jobs, re-industrialise our country and accelerate economic development. Nigerian businesses in sectors like banking and cement have successfully ventured out of the country to build thriving subsidiaries.

“We will build a strong domestic economy, expand the capacity of our domestic market to support growth and encourage export capacity in the areas of our competitive advantage. We have the endowments to be a prosperous country. I will lead a renewed push to move us from the status of a nation of potential into a country of actual accomplishments as an economic dynamo.”

Tinubu also promised to focus on using his experience of building human capital, which made Lagos one of the largest economies in Africa to grow the nation’s economy to an enviable height.

“Using my experience of building human capital, industries, and institutions, which has led to Lagos being one of the largest economies on the continent, I will reposition our existing industries and make them a competitive source of industrialization and growth not just for the North but the entire country. It is time to fetch water from a dry well and I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have done it before and I will do it. We will find a way where there are no roads!

“I will ensure that we take advantage of our resources to convert cotton to textile, plants to pharmaceutical products, groundnut to edible oil, cassava to ethanol and starch, etc., thereby building competitive advantage for our farmers through value addition.

“I will attract investments and create the enabling environment that will ensure the resurgence of our moribund industries and continue the infrastructural revolution of this administration on the railways and highways all over the country and invest in our inland waterways for safer and efficient transportation to complement this industrialization vision,” he said.

Tinubu further noted that the North has a greater advantage in agriculture and under his presidency, the region will emerge as the hub of agribusiness in Africa through huge investment in the sector in collaboration with the private sector.

He said, “Agriculture is of special interest to me. It is both an economic and existential issue for every country.

“Experience in the last seven years has shown the potentials of agriculture in solving the problem of unemployment and boosting our GDP. For example, recent investment in the rice value chain has led to the springing up of rice mills across the country with attendant wealth creation and a reduction in our import bill.

“The North has greater advantage in this regard due to its large and abundant arable land. My vision is for the region to be the hub of agribusiness in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We will improve investment in our livestock value chain. Specifically, subsectors like the dairy industry that has the potential of adding billions of dollars into our economy will receive significant attention.

“In collaboration with the private sector and governments at sub-national levels, we will make available high yield seeds and inputs, invest heavily in post-harvest storage and processing facilities so that we can significantly increase the value of what we produce. To ensure optimizing the full value of their produce, we will utilize Commodity Exchanges to guarantee return on investments, and enhanced wealth for the farmers.

“We will make available funds for research and development to provide the right inputs that will ensure greater yields, and tackle climatic challenges bedevilling farmers such as flooding and desertification through enhancement of national drainage architecture and investment in shelter belts.

“Financing is critical to our vision for the agricultural sector. I assure you; I will attract the much-needed investment and re-engineer financing institutions to provide impactful interventions for maximal output.”

On his plans for education and helping reduce the out-of-school children in the North, the APC presidential standard bearer said, “Education is the most effective weapon against poverty. Comparative with other countries, education in Nigeria suffers from funding deficit on account of our population and limited resources. I will provide the required leadership and mobilize investment for the development of the sector. We will work with both states and local governments to reform and retool the system. These reforms will give special attention to the welfare and training of our teachers and lecturers as necessary catalyst for the better system we desire.

“We will work with stakeholders to evolve creative solutions to the funding needs of our higher education that will bring terminal end to challenges of funding and the attendant perennial industrial actions. To ease financing for basic education and expand access, we will cut down on the counterpart fund required by states to access UBEC grants to an affordable percentage.

“Millions of our children are currently roaming the streets instead of being in classrooms.  My administration will invest heavily in infrastructure to allow for proper integration of these children into our conventional schools.

“Thankfully, the current APC government has rolled out several initiatives, in partnership with development partners, to provide alternative access to education and vocation to this particular demographic.”

The event was attended by leaders from Northern Nigeria across party lines, academics, civil society and youth organisations.

With Tinubu at the event are APC Governors from the North, including the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, who is the director general of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council; Governors of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule; Yobe State governor, Mai Bala Buni, and Zamfara, Bello Matawalle.

Former APC national chairman and deputy director general of the campaign council, Adams Oshiomhole, and Hadiza Bala Usman, deputy director general of the campaign council, were also at the event.

The leadership and representatives of the opposition coalition led by the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Action Alliance and other opposition parties stormed the UK High Commission, US and EU embassies to present evidence of compromise of the voters’ register and petition against a plot to sack the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and deactivate the BVAS.

The opposition leaders sought a global hunt down of the conspirators and their families with visa ban, assets freeze and arrest where possible.

They urged firm action against people who have held Nigeria and its 20 million citizens down and perpetrated themselves in office through rigging, denying the people of their democratic choice, looting the common treasury and acquiring property across the globe.

According to the opposition leaders,  if their properties are seized, they will learn their lessons.

They further called on all the foreign missions to keep a closer eye on Nigeria’s transition process, saying the plot to destabilise INEC could throw Nigeria into a crisis that is capable of conflagrating, truncating democracy and shattering West African regional peace.

Addressing newsmen after the round of visits, the spokesperson of the opposition coalition CUPP which is the umbrella body of opposition parties in Nigeria, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Ojeozi Ideato), High Chief Peter Ameh from Labour Party, Kenneth Udeze of Action Alliance Party, Rt.Hon.Jeff Ojinika of the Labour Party, and Kabiru Yusuf of the Arewa Consultative group said the move was aimed at engendering peaceful, acceptable, credible, free and fair elections.

The US Central District Court in California has again postponed the sentencing of Ramon Abbas, a Nigerian Instagram celebrity, popularly known as Hushpuppi, who has pleaded guilty to multi-million-dollar fraud charges.

Hushpuppi was apprehended in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020, and subsequently taken to the US, where he pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021.

According to the notice from the US authorities, the trial judge, Otis Wright, has fixed November 7, 2022 as the date to sentence Hushpuppi.

“COUNSEL ARE NOTIFIED, the Sentencing is CONTINUED to November 7, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court’s announcement shifting the sentencing reads.

The sentence hearing was initially moved by Judge Wright from February 14 to July 11, 2022 before shifting it to September 21 and now November 7.

Hushpuppi, in July 2021, agreed to plead guilty to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges slammed against him by the American government.
 

He has been in prison since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the US in June 2020.

In a dramatic twist, Mr Abbas, who initially maintained his innocence, entered into a plea bargain agreement with the US authorities in July 2021, in the hope of getting a lighter punishment.

He pleaded guilty to Count Two which is “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum imprisonment of 20 years among other punishments including full restitution, his plea agreement with the U.S. government states in part.

Despite pleading guilty, Mr Abbas will not be freed from paying restitution.

“Defendant understands that the defendant will be required to pay full restitution to the victim(s) of the offence to which the defendant is pleading guilty.

“Defendant agrees that, in return for the USAO’s compliance with its obligations under this agreement, the court may order restitution to persons other than the victim(s) of the offenses to which defendant is pleading guilty and in amounts greater than those alleged in the count to which defendant is pleading guilty.”

Not being an American citizen, he will be deported after completing his jail term and paying up the amount to be restituted.

The maximum penalty for the offence which Mr Abass hopes will be reduced at his sentencing include: “20 years’ imprisonment; a 3-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a mandatory special assessment of $100.”

In June 2020, the 39-year-old known for flaunting his opulent lifestyle on social media was arrested in Dubai by special agents including the Emerati police officers and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operatives.